Euthanasia is the deliberate, intentional termination of a person's life for the benefit of that person.
In general, enthanasia involves medical doctors making decisions which result in shortening a patient's life, and these decisions are based on the belief that the patient would be better off dead.
The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and the American state of Oregon are the only 4 jurisdiction in the world where laws specifically permit euthanasia or assisted suicide. In February 2008, Luxembourg became the 3rd European country to legalise euthanasia.
In 2002, the Netherlands became the 1st country to legalise euthanasia. According to the BBC, euthanasia now accounts for between 4,000 and 5,000 deaths a year in the country.
The practice is tightly regulated and it is estimated that doctors - the only people allowed to perform euthanasia - turn down 2/3 of requests.
Under the law, euthanasia will be administered only to patients who are in continuous, unbearable and incurable suffering. A 2nd opinion will be required, the patient must be judged to be of sound mind, and his or her request to die must be made voluntarily, independently and persistently.
Doctors carrying out enthanasia generally administer a lethal injection to their patients, and those assisting in suicide prescribe drug overdoses. Euthanasia is also allowed for babies with incurable conditions including severe spina bifida and a painful skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa.
Belgium also legalised euthanasia in 2002. Patients there must consciously make the demand and be under "constant and unbearable physical or psychological pain" resulting from an accident or incurable illness. 2 doctors must be involved, as well as a psychologist if the patient's competency is in doubt. The doctor and patient negotiate whether death is to be by lethal injection or prescribed overdose..
In the United States, Oregon is the 1st state to allow lethal prescriptions. Doctors can prescribe lethal drugs to help patients commit suicide but cannot administer them.
This is also the case of Switzerland - you have to be able to physically carry out that final act yourself.
What Euthanasia Is Not
There is no euthanasia unless the death is intentionally caused by what was done or not done. Thus, some medical actions that are often labelled "passive euthanasia" are not forms of euthanasia, since the intention to take life is lacking.
These acts include not commencing treatment that would not provide a benefit to the patient, withdrawing treatment that has been shown to be ineffective, too burdensome or is unwanted, as well as the giving of high doses of painkillers that may endanger life, when they have been shown to be necessary.
All these are part of good medical practice, endorsed by law, when they are properly carried out.
(Quote From Sunday Times 26 Oct 2008)
(Note: My personal opinion is against euthanasia.)
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Thursday, 10 September 2009
The meaning of John 14:6 "I am The Way..."
Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6
I was puzzled by this verse for a long time. Now I understand.
Now you see, Jesus is always at the RIGHT hand of God the Father who sits on the Throne in Heaven. See Acts 7:56, Rev 4:2-3.
Now, on Judgement Day, Christians and non-Christians, Jews and Gentiles, will come before the Throne of Grace and face God Father with Jesus on His right.
Whatever is communicated to God Father, must first pass through Jesus!
So when a christian steps forward to face the Throne, Jesus immediately recognises him and may say "... I have already redeemed you by dying on the Cross for you. Welcome..."
So when a non-christian steps forward to face the Throne, Jesus may say "...eh..eh..your have not been saved by my redeeming grace. Now lets look at your conscience and what you have done and achieved..."
So everyone will pass 'through' Jesus who stands on the right of God Judge. Jesus is THE way, the ONLY way to reach God the Father on Judgement Day.
I was puzzled by this verse for a long time. Now I understand.
Now you see, Jesus is always at the RIGHT hand of God the Father who sits on the Throne in Heaven. See Acts 7:56, Rev 4:2-3.
Now, on Judgement Day, Christians and non-Christians, Jews and Gentiles, will come before the Throne of Grace and face God Father with Jesus on His right.
Whatever is communicated to God Father, must first pass through Jesus!
So when a christian steps forward to face the Throne, Jesus immediately recognises him and may say "... I have already redeemed you by dying on the Cross for you. Welcome..."
So when a non-christian steps forward to face the Throne, Jesus may say "...eh..eh..your have not been saved by my redeeming grace. Now lets look at your conscience and what you have done and achieved..."
So everyone will pass 'through' Jesus who stands on the right of God Judge. Jesus is THE way, the ONLY way to reach God the Father on Judgement Day.
Paradox: God the Father, God the Son, are in Heaven. But they are here!
Jesus foretold His death, and told His disciples that He could not bring them along. He went back to Heaven to be with the Father. In Acts 7:56, Stephen said "Behold I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
God the Father and God the Son are now in Heaven. They are not here on Earth.
However, go ahead and pray to the Father and the Son. They are omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. They are here by your side and listening and answering your prayers. (This is a paradox - They are in Heaven, yet They are here.)
Before Jesus returned to Heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit. And yes, after a few weeks, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came in a spectacular manner, empowering the believers, changing them from discouraged people to mighty men and women.
So now, who is on Earth, and who is in Heaven ? Answer is obvious.
The Holy Spirit is here on Earth with us. He is our Helper. Pray in the Holy Spirit.
God the Father and God the Son are now in Heaven. They are not here on Earth.
However, go ahead and pray to the Father and the Son. They are omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. They are here by your side and listening and answering your prayers. (This is a paradox - They are in Heaven, yet They are here.)
Before Jesus returned to Heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit. And yes, after a few weeks, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came in a spectacular manner, empowering the believers, changing them from discouraged people to mighty men and women.
So now, who is on Earth, and who is in Heaven ? Answer is obvious.
The Holy Spirit is here on Earth with us. He is our Helper. Pray in the Holy Spirit.
Sunday, 19 July 2009
The Great Paradox - Christ is The Way...
Priest Father Herman Roborgh wrote about the '5 Paradoxes of Christianity' in the journal Dialogue Australasia. I would like to capture 1 of the 5 paradoxes here to illustrate what I wrote earlier in this blog.
Paradox: Christians and Muslims regard their own faith as the true way, yet also affirm the truth of other paths.
It is clear that, for Christians, Christ is the Way to God. Yet Jesus is also presented as saying "many will come from the east and the west to take their places with Abraham". The Catholic Church also acknowledges that those outside the community of the Church can attain salvation, thereby recognising the value of other paths to God.
Similarly, the Qur'an says that God has chosen Islam as the true religion: "Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My blessing upon you, and chosen as your religion islam." But the Qur'an also acknowledges the faith of those outside the community of Muslims: "The Muslim believers, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabians - all those who believe in God and the Last Day and do good - will have their rewards with the Lord." (Sunday July 5 2009, Catholic News.)
Personally, I think this is Father Herman's liberal thinking. It may be right, it may be wrong. But we cannot deny that this remains a Great Paradox.
Paradox: Christians and Muslims regard their own faith as the true way, yet also affirm the truth of other paths.
It is clear that, for Christians, Christ is the Way to God. Yet Jesus is also presented as saying "many will come from the east and the west to take their places with Abraham". The Catholic Church also acknowledges that those outside the community of the Church can attain salvation, thereby recognising the value of other paths to God.
Similarly, the Qur'an says that God has chosen Islam as the true religion: "Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My blessing upon you, and chosen as your religion islam." But the Qur'an also acknowledges the faith of those outside the community of Muslims: "The Muslim believers, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabians - all those who believe in God and the Last Day and do good - will have their rewards with the Lord." (Sunday July 5 2009, Catholic News.)
Personally, I think this is Father Herman's liberal thinking. It may be right, it may be wrong. But we cannot deny that this remains a Great Paradox.
Conversations in Heaven?
I have just finished reading 'FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN'. I have read 'Tuesday With Morrie' a few years ago.
The author was very good in the use of words to weave subtle changes in emotions. The heavenly conversations with 5 people were filled with surprises. It is a good book that can set your mind thinking .
The books are not about religion. They simply give glimpses of the meanings of life.
I would recommend both these books to you.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Lessons
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me... It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words “In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words “In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Some Information on Joseph
Some of us already know something about Mary, the mother of Jesus. But few of us know much about Joseph the father of Jesus. Here is a bit of information.
The Catholic Church has its root from the time of Christ. The first Pope is considered to be Peter. It was Jesus who appointed Peter "You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My Church...Matt16:18". Hence it is Catholic Church that provides us with 'tradition information' that are not found elsewhere.
This article appearing in 'Dear Padre' on June 14,2009. It's an answer to the question "How did Joseph die?"
"The Church teaches that Mary did die, after which she was 'assumed' into heaven, meaning she was taken up not by her own power, but by the power of God. Assumption is not to be confused with Jesus' ascension into heaven, in which he was taken up by His own power.
We don't know how Joseph died, but we believe he died in the regular fashion and was not assumed into heaven. Tradition teaches that when Joseph died, both Mary and Jesus were at his bedside. For this reason, Joseph is called the patron of a happy death. The customs of the day dictated that, as Joseph's only child, Jesus would have made the arrangements for his father's funeral, possibly preparing the body for burial and washing, anointing, and wrapping Joseph's body, as others would later do for Jesus. We cannot know for sure what Joseph's death and burial were like, but we can assured that Jesus cared for his foster father with the utmost love.
Each of us can only hope that, as he was with Joseph, Jesus will be at our side when we breathe out last."
This is just a bit of information for those who are interested. It's not important though.
The Catholic Church has its root from the time of Christ. The first Pope is considered to be Peter. It was Jesus who appointed Peter "You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build My Church...Matt16:18". Hence it is Catholic Church that provides us with 'tradition information' that are not found elsewhere.
This article appearing in 'Dear Padre' on June 14,2009. It's an answer to the question "How did Joseph die?"
"The Church teaches that Mary did die, after which she was 'assumed' into heaven, meaning she was taken up not by her own power, but by the power of God. Assumption is not to be confused with Jesus' ascension into heaven, in which he was taken up by His own power.
We don't know how Joseph died, but we believe he died in the regular fashion and was not assumed into heaven. Tradition teaches that when Joseph died, both Mary and Jesus were at his bedside. For this reason, Joseph is called the patron of a happy death. The customs of the day dictated that, as Joseph's only child, Jesus would have made the arrangements for his father's funeral, possibly preparing the body for burial and washing, anointing, and wrapping Joseph's body, as others would later do for Jesus. We cannot know for sure what Joseph's death and burial were like, but we can assured that Jesus cared for his foster father with the utmost love.
Each of us can only hope that, as he was with Joseph, Jesus will be at our side when we breathe out last."
This is just a bit of information for those who are interested. It's not important though.
Sunday, 14 June 2009
The Gospel of Prosperity?
There are some christian communities that advocate the idea that God wants His people to be very rich: "Look at King David, King Solomon, Abraham. They were godly men, though at times they sinned badly. God had blessed them, they were the richest men during their era! God will always want to prosper His people!"
As I mulled over this idea, I realised that all these 'rich' examples were from the Old Testament.
In the New Testament, the emphasis is not material wealth or prosperity. There was no mention of any 'very rich' believers. Jesus exhorted "...Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy...But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys...Matt 6:19."
None of the 12 (13 including Paul) disciples were wealthy. (I was told not to cite the 12 disciples or the tribe of Levites as examples because God had chosen and destined 10% of His people to be priests or other christian vocations. Understandably, they will be have no time to be wealthy.) But for us,the other 90%, God clearly intended us to be prosperous!
I too believe that God did not intend for us christians to be poor. "Look at the birds of the air...Observe the lilies of the field...Do not be anxious then saying, 'What shall we eat? What shall we drink? With what shall we clothe ourselves? ...But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you...Matt6:31".
So the focus is on His kingdom and His righteousness, NOT on prosperity.
If a man focuses on Getting Rich, then "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God...Luk 18:25".
So don't focus on making money or acquiring wealth. Don't even aspire to earn a million $ to donate for God's work or for charity. God is not poor that He needs you to work day and night to earn money for Him.
Click below. Hope you will be inspired.
http://www.imeem.com/jesusistheanswer/music/kxXIutn5/psalty-kids-praise-seek-ye-first/
As I mulled over this idea, I realised that all these 'rich' examples were from the Old Testament.
In the New Testament, the emphasis is not material wealth or prosperity. There was no mention of any 'very rich' believers. Jesus exhorted "...Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy...But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys...Matt 6:19."
None of the 12 (13 including Paul) disciples were wealthy. (I was told not to cite the 12 disciples or the tribe of Levites as examples because God had chosen and destined 10% of His people to be priests or other christian vocations. Understandably, they will be have no time to be wealthy.) But for us,the other 90%, God clearly intended us to be prosperous!
I too believe that God did not intend for us christians to be poor. "Look at the birds of the air...Observe the lilies of the field...Do not be anxious then saying, 'What shall we eat? What shall we drink? With what shall we clothe ourselves? ...But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you...Matt6:31".
So the focus is on His kingdom and His righteousness, NOT on prosperity.
If a man focuses on Getting Rich, then "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God...Luk 18:25".
So don't focus on making money or acquiring wealth. Don't even aspire to earn a million $ to donate for God's work or for charity. God is not poor that He needs you to work day and night to earn money for Him.
Click below. Hope you will be inspired.
http://www.imeem.com/jesusistheanswer/music/kxXIutn5/psalty-kids-praise-seek-ye-first/
Sunday, 7 June 2009
God is all-knowing, even about disasters.
SAO PAULO (Brazil) - AN AIR Air France jet Flight 447carrying 228 people from Rio de Janeiro to Paris hit strong turbulance and lost contact with air traffic controllers over the Atlantic Ocean, officials said on Monday. Brazil began a search mission off its northeastern coast.
God is omnipotent, omniscient - all-powerful, all-knowing...
Flight 447 left Rio on Sunday 31 May 2009, 7 pm local time. At 10.15 pm, the 3 pilots on board steered the plane through a thunderous zone of strong turbulence. The pilots did not know that in 2 minutes time, disaster would strike and the plane would sink to the bottom of the ocean, somewhere 300 km northeast of the coastal city of Natal.
But at 10.15 pm, God knew exactly what would happen in 2 minutes time. God is all-knowing. He knew that 228 lives would perish.
He could do something to avert the disaster because He is all-powerful. But He did not.
He allowed "acts of nature" to take their course.
God had been asked a billion times "Why don't you intervene to save the innocent from disasters?" How can all disasters "...work together for the good of those who believe Him?"
God did not answer the questions. It will remain a mystery. We will never know.
And this is where FAITH takes over. If we know the answer, or if we know of an explanation which is acceptable to us, then where is faith? Then our belief in God is based on knowledge, and not by faith.
"Faith is the assurance of things hope for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11.1.
In the end, our Christian belief is based on Jesus Christ, who died, was buried and rose again and appeared to hundreds of believers.
Besides Jesus Christ, all our belief is faith - because we really don't know anything else for sure.
And our faith actually comes from God. Thank God for His grace for giving us the gift of faith.
God is omnipotent, omniscient - all-powerful, all-knowing...
Flight 447 left Rio on Sunday 31 May 2009, 7 pm local time. At 10.15 pm, the 3 pilots on board steered the plane through a thunderous zone of strong turbulence. The pilots did not know that in 2 minutes time, disaster would strike and the plane would sink to the bottom of the ocean, somewhere 300 km northeast of the coastal city of Natal.
But at 10.15 pm, God knew exactly what would happen in 2 minutes time. God is all-knowing. He knew that 228 lives would perish.
He could do something to avert the disaster because He is all-powerful. But He did not.
He allowed "acts of nature" to take their course.
God had been asked a billion times "Why don't you intervene to save the innocent from disasters?" How can all disasters "...work together for the good of those who believe Him?"
God did not answer the questions. It will remain a mystery. We will never know.
And this is where FAITH takes over. If we know the answer, or if we know of an explanation which is acceptable to us, then where is faith? Then our belief in God is based on knowledge, and not by faith.
"Faith is the assurance of things hope for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11.1.
In the end, our Christian belief is based on Jesus Christ, who died, was buried and rose again and appeared to hundreds of believers.
Besides Jesus Christ, all our belief is faith - because we really don't know anything else for sure.
And our faith actually comes from God. Thank God for His grace for giving us the gift of faith.
Monday, 1 June 2009
My neighbour was a medium
Years ago, when I lived in a village, I had a neighbour who earned extra income by being a medium.
Ah Tim built a shed near to his house and installed an altar in it. On the altar sat an idol whom he would offer jossticks day and night. When customers came to consult him, he would light extra jossticks, josscandles and burnt some josspaper.
As it happened very long ago, I have forgotten much of the details. I vaguely remember that he could have an average of 1 or 2 customers a day. They came to ask him about the predicament of deceased relatives, asked whether they had offended any spirits, and very often, to get 4-D numbers to 'buy lottery'.
Ah Tim would go into a semi-trance and conversed with his customers in a mumbly voice. At times he would grab some pomelo leaves and stuff them inside his mouth to chew while meting out advice and information to his customers.
Now and then, a customer would return to Ah Tim and announced that he had won a 4-D lottery and would now wish to offer the idol thanksgiving and respect. Ah Tim would receive a thanksgiving 'red-packet' of course. Some neighbours would laugh and reasoned that if Ah Tim gave out 100 4-D numbers, surely 1 would 'open' as a winner.
By and by, all the families in the village were re-settled, and the area was renamed Potong Pasir Housing Estate instead. Ah Tim was re-settled in Toa Payoh. The last I heard was that he was doing pretty well as a medium.
I am writing this in my blog just to show that there are still such activities in Singapore.
Ah Tim built a shed near to his house and installed an altar in it. On the altar sat an idol whom he would offer jossticks day and night. When customers came to consult him, he would light extra jossticks, josscandles and burnt some josspaper.
As it happened very long ago, I have forgotten much of the details. I vaguely remember that he could have an average of 1 or 2 customers a day. They came to ask him about the predicament of deceased relatives, asked whether they had offended any spirits, and very often, to get 4-D numbers to 'buy lottery'.
Ah Tim would go into a semi-trance and conversed with his customers in a mumbly voice. At times he would grab some pomelo leaves and stuff them inside his mouth to chew while meting out advice and information to his customers.
Now and then, a customer would return to Ah Tim and announced that he had won a 4-D lottery and would now wish to offer the idol thanksgiving and respect. Ah Tim would receive a thanksgiving 'red-packet' of course. Some neighbours would laugh and reasoned that if Ah Tim gave out 100 4-D numbers, surely 1 would 'open' as a winner.
By and by, all the families in the village were re-settled, and the area was renamed Potong Pasir Housing Estate instead. Ah Tim was re-settled in Toa Payoh. The last I heard was that he was doing pretty well as a medium.
I am writing this in my blog just to show that there are still such activities in Singapore.
We are never 100% sure !
If you have been reading my blog entries below, you would realised that I am always questioning, to the extent of being cynical sometimes. I have always questioned what I believe.
In my quiet moments, I would still ask myself "Are you sure you are a Christian? Are you 100% sure you believe in the right thing?"
As a "Doubting Thomas" by nature, I love to learn about apologetics. I think I can offer several reasons why Christianity is most creditable. I can cite many reasons, such as fulfilled prophecies, fulfilled claims of Jesus Christ, evidence of the empty tomb, Jesus appearing to hundreds of living people after he rose from the dead, real-life witnesses such as apostle Thomas poking his finger into the risen Christ's body, and the credibility of the many gospel books, etc.
But I am really not 100% sure. I have not seen Jesus Christ. I am only intellectually convinced. I am also experientially convinced. My heart has been touched many times by the grace of God. But, maybe, just maybe, I am only 95% sure or 97% sure....
I have never spoken in tongues. I do not have any gift of vision or healing or prophecy. Perhaps if I have such spiritual gifts and abilities, I may be 98.5% sure!
I would like to ask my mentors and seniors, people like Dr. Wilson Lau, like Dr Roland Tan, like my pastors, priests, bishops and even the Pope... Sir, are you 100% sure...?
If they understand my question, their answer would be no. No matter how brilliant we are, our understand and beliefs will not be 100% correct. We are corrected, time and time again for understanding the wrong thing - one moment, we are told drinking 8cups of water a day is good, another moment we are told drinking 8 cups of water is too much, etc. We will never be 100% right. Even godly men, in the bible stories, had their moments of doubt.
But even though I am not 100% sure overall, one thing I am 99.99% sure - that Jesus died, was buried and rose again on the 3rd day and appeared to a few, and then to hundreds at the same time.
With this 99.99% level of confidence, I know that Jesus Christ is alive somewhere. This is enough.
All the rest of my belief may be only 97% or even 50% sure. But, but all the rest of my belief, doesn't matter.
In my quiet moments, I would still ask myself "Are you sure you are a Christian? Are you 100% sure you believe in the right thing?"
As a "Doubting Thomas" by nature, I love to learn about apologetics. I think I can offer several reasons why Christianity is most creditable. I can cite many reasons, such as fulfilled prophecies, fulfilled claims of Jesus Christ, evidence of the empty tomb, Jesus appearing to hundreds of living people after he rose from the dead, real-life witnesses such as apostle Thomas poking his finger into the risen Christ's body, and the credibility of the many gospel books, etc.
But I am really not 100% sure. I have not seen Jesus Christ. I am only intellectually convinced. I am also experientially convinced. My heart has been touched many times by the grace of God. But, maybe, just maybe, I am only 95% sure or 97% sure....
I have never spoken in tongues. I do not have any gift of vision or healing or prophecy. Perhaps if I have such spiritual gifts and abilities, I may be 98.5% sure!
I would like to ask my mentors and seniors, people like Dr. Wilson Lau, like Dr Roland Tan, like my pastors, priests, bishops and even the Pope... Sir, are you 100% sure...?
If they understand my question, their answer would be no. No matter how brilliant we are, our understand and beliefs will not be 100% correct. We are corrected, time and time again for understanding the wrong thing - one moment, we are told drinking 8cups of water a day is good, another moment we are told drinking 8 cups of water is too much, etc. We will never be 100% right. Even godly men, in the bible stories, had their moments of doubt.
But even though I am not 100% sure overall, one thing I am 99.99% sure - that Jesus died, was buried and rose again on the 3rd day and appeared to a few, and then to hundreds at the same time.
With this 99.99% level of confidence, I know that Jesus Christ is alive somewhere. This is enough.
All the rest of my belief may be only 97% or even 50% sure. But, but all the rest of my belief, doesn't matter.
Still Surviving !
Over the last 3 years, I have the opportunity to dabble in a number of business ideas. I have earnestly tried going into the caregiver's business, the property business, the financial industry and some other business ideas. I have been waiting for the stock market upswing as well. (But I lost focus and I missed the boat now.)
Experience tells me that the chances of success in business is not much better than shrew timing when buying stocks and shares.
With holding power, it is unlikely that you will lose money in stocks and shares. In other words, you will not lose money if you are a long-term investor.
In business, the chances of profitability is probably 20% - i.e. for every 5 businesses that I spend time on, only 1 will succeed.
I am now expanding my small business in delivering training products. I started off by providing Silk Screening Worshops for Primary Schools. By God's grace, I am now a certified MOE AMIS trainer and a Peoples' Association (PA) trainer.
I have started extending the range of products to teaching Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship. Now I am considering adding Decoupageing as a new product. I am trying to extend my customer segment from schools to RC Centres (Residents' Committee Centres) too.
So what is the relevance of God in all these endeavours? As a 'free-lance businessman' I am totally dependent on God's grace for customers and opportunities to close deals. I guess hawkers and businessmen generally have a 'religious pre-disposition' for the same reason - sometimes, oftentimes, whether you can successfully close a sales contract, is not something that you can control.
This is just some private information I can share with friends and readers. Please let me know if you can introduce any school teachers or RC members to me so that I can introduce my products to them.
Thank you.
Experience tells me that the chances of success in business is not much better than shrew timing when buying stocks and shares.
With holding power, it is unlikely that you will lose money in stocks and shares. In other words, you will not lose money if you are a long-term investor.
In business, the chances of profitability is probably 20% - i.e. for every 5 businesses that I spend time on, only 1 will succeed.
I am now expanding my small business in delivering training products. I started off by providing Silk Screening Worshops for Primary Schools. By God's grace, I am now a certified MOE AMIS trainer and a Peoples' Association (PA) trainer.
I have started extending the range of products to teaching Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship. Now I am considering adding Decoupageing as a new product. I am trying to extend my customer segment from schools to RC Centres (Residents' Committee Centres) too.
So what is the relevance of God in all these endeavours? As a 'free-lance businessman' I am totally dependent on God's grace for customers and opportunities to close deals. I guess hawkers and businessmen generally have a 'religious pre-disposition' for the same reason - sometimes, oftentimes, whether you can successfully close a sales contract, is not something that you can control.
This is just some private information I can share with friends and readers. Please let me know if you can introduce any school teachers or RC members to me so that I can introduce my products to them.
Thank you.
Sunday, 8 February 2009
Chi, the BioEnergy, Part 3 of 3: Digestive System and Trophology
The human digestive system consists of a 40-feet tubing, from mouth to anus. This is quite unbeliveable! It's 7 to 8 times the length of our body! Compare this to that of a tiger or lion which is 9 or 10 feet long. Hey, why must our food travel such a winding, torturous path before being passed out?
The Bible did gave some instructions on what can be eaten and what could not. Much was mentioned about hoofed animals, fish without scales and other crustaceans. You can read about them in the first 3 books of the Bible.
In Exodus 16, God provided some guidelines on trophology, the science of mixing food.
"And ... the (hungry) Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron...'...so you have brought us out from Egypt into this wilderness to be killed with hunger?'
After consulting God, Moses said to the Israelites, 'This will happen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the Lord hears your gumblings which you grumble against Him.'..."
God was instructing the Israelites NOT to take meat/protein and cabohydrates at the SAME time, but at DIFFERENT time of the day. Our digestive system secretes one type of chemical to breakdown protein, and another chemical to breakdown cabohydrates. When both types of food are taken at the same time, the digestive system is 'confused'. Instead of breaking down the food for proper assimilation into the body, the food turns foul and putrid in our stomach and intestines instead.
The same goes for fruits. Fruits travels much faster through the digestive system than either protein or cabohydrates. Hence fruits should be consumed first, before the main meal of protein or cabohydrates. If protein or cabohydrates were eaten first, and then fruits were eaten as dessert, can you imagine what will happen? The slow-moving items will 'block' the fast-moving items all the way from the throat to the anus. When all are mixed-up and moved sluggishly along the 40-feet-passageway, how much good can be absorbed into the body?
So eat fruits before taking a main meal. Remember, raw food, such as fruits provides 'chi'. Cooked food does not.
The Bible did gave some instructions on what can be eaten and what could not. Much was mentioned about hoofed animals, fish without scales and other crustaceans. You can read about them in the first 3 books of the Bible.
In Exodus 16, God provided some guidelines on trophology, the science of mixing food.
"And ... the (hungry) Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron...'...so you have brought us out from Egypt into this wilderness to be killed with hunger?'
After consulting God, Moses said to the Israelites, 'This will happen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the Lord hears your gumblings which you grumble against Him.'..."
God was instructing the Israelites NOT to take meat/protein and cabohydrates at the SAME time, but at DIFFERENT time of the day. Our digestive system secretes one type of chemical to breakdown protein, and another chemical to breakdown cabohydrates. When both types of food are taken at the same time, the digestive system is 'confused'. Instead of breaking down the food for proper assimilation into the body, the food turns foul and putrid in our stomach and intestines instead.
The same goes for fruits. Fruits travels much faster through the digestive system than either protein or cabohydrates. Hence fruits should be consumed first, before the main meal of protein or cabohydrates. If protein or cabohydrates were eaten first, and then fruits were eaten as dessert, can you imagine what will happen? The slow-moving items will 'block' the fast-moving items all the way from the throat to the anus. When all are mixed-up and moved sluggishly along the 40-feet-passageway, how much good can be absorbed into the body?
So eat fruits before taking a main meal. Remember, raw food, such as fruits provides 'chi'. Cooked food does not.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
What Rick Warren Did With His Money
We all know Rick Warren made lots of money from the books he authored.
Here's a snippet of Larry King asking Warren how he keeps his life balanced despite his success:
----------------------------------------------------
KING: So, the question is, how do you keep your balance?
WARREN: Well, you know what, when the book, Larry, and this caller, when it began to become a big success world-wide, I actually began to got to scripture to pray about what I called the stewardship of have affluence and the stewardship of influence. And that was, God, what do I do with me money, and what do I do with the notoriety. Because, I don't think God gives either money or fame for your own ego, certainly not a pastor.
And I didn't want it. And in fact, that's the whole reason why I never put our church services on television. Twenty Five-years-ago I made the decision to never be on television as a church service, because I didn't want to be a televangelist. I didn't like the lifestyle. And I didn't like a lot of the -- I think always being in the spotlight blinds you.
And Kay (ph) and I made two very important decisions, based on two passages of scripture. First Corinthians 9 and Psalms 72. First with the money, we made five decisions. First was, we weren't going to change our lifestyle one bit, no matter how much money came in. So, we still live in the same house. We didn't buy a bigger house. We don't own a guest house. We don't own a yacht. I still drive a 4- year-old Ford. And we're just are not going to let money change your lives, and I'm not going to use it to impress people.
The second decision we made was, I stopped taking the salary from my church about three years ago.
The third decision is, I added up all that the church had paid me in the past 25 years and I gave it all back. And I did that because I don't want anybody to ever think that I was doing this for money, because I don't. I would have done it for free from the start if I could have. And now the book made it possible for me to give all that money back.
And right after I did that, I was interviewed by a major news magazine. And the first question was, what's your salary? And I was able to say, well, actually, I've now serve my church for free for 25 years. Then we set up, No. 4, we set up three foundations, one of them called Acts of Mercy, which is used to help those who are infected and affected by AIDS globally. And then the fifth is, we actually became reverse tithers, which means that when Kay and I got married, we began to tithe 10 percent of our income to charity, and each year in the last 30 years we've raised it a percentage, and we're not actually reverse tithers, so we give away 90 percent and live on 10 percent.
----------------------------------------------
There's something about Rick Warren that is very refreshing. It's not to say this "his way" is the right way or what everyone should do, but I would say that he has, so far, done a great job keeping his life and his wealth in balance.
Here's a snippet of Larry King asking Warren how he keeps his life balanced despite his success:
----------------------------------------------------
KING: So, the question is, how do you keep your balance?
WARREN: Well, you know what, when the book, Larry, and this caller, when it began to become a big success world-wide, I actually began to got to scripture to pray about what I called the stewardship of have affluence and the stewardship of influence. And that was, God, what do I do with me money, and what do I do with the notoriety. Because, I don't think God gives either money or fame for your own ego, certainly not a pastor.
And I didn't want it. And in fact, that's the whole reason why I never put our church services on television. Twenty Five-years-ago I made the decision to never be on television as a church service, because I didn't want to be a televangelist. I didn't like the lifestyle. And I didn't like a lot of the -- I think always being in the spotlight blinds you.
And Kay (ph) and I made two very important decisions, based on two passages of scripture. First Corinthians 9 and Psalms 72. First with the money, we made five decisions. First was, we weren't going to change our lifestyle one bit, no matter how much money came in. So, we still live in the same house. We didn't buy a bigger house. We don't own a guest house. We don't own a yacht. I still drive a 4- year-old Ford. And we're just are not going to let money change your lives, and I'm not going to use it to impress people.
The second decision we made was, I stopped taking the salary from my church about three years ago.
The third decision is, I added up all that the church had paid me in the past 25 years and I gave it all back. And I did that because I don't want anybody to ever think that I was doing this for money, because I don't. I would have done it for free from the start if I could have. And now the book made it possible for me to give all that money back.
And right after I did that, I was interviewed by a major news magazine. And the first question was, what's your salary? And I was able to say, well, actually, I've now serve my church for free for 25 years. Then we set up, No. 4, we set up three foundations, one of them called Acts of Mercy, which is used to help those who are infected and affected by AIDS globally. And then the fifth is, we actually became reverse tithers, which means that when Kay and I got married, we began to tithe 10 percent of our income to charity, and each year in the last 30 years we've raised it a percentage, and we're not actually reverse tithers, so we give away 90 percent and live on 10 percent.
----------------------------------------------
There's something about Rick Warren that is very refreshing. It's not to say this "his way" is the right way or what everyone should do, but I would say that he has, so far, done a great job keeping his life and his wealth in balance.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Chi, the BioEnergy Part 2 of 3: Internal Elixir
In the last blog entry (below), I touched on the 2 approaches to health and longevity, i.e. External Elixir and Internal Elixir to cultivate 'chi'. I touched on one aspect of External Elixir, which is Diet.
Here I touch on one aspect of Internal Elixir, which is Exercise and Breathing.
Exercise refers to calithenics such as Qigong and Taichi which increases the 'chi' in the body. 'chi is also moved round different parts of the body to remove negativities or harmful elements.
Breathing refers to deep abdominal breathing and internal energy control. Deep breathing provides 2 major benefits. a) Deep breathing downloads beneficial negative ion energy from the air to the human body system. b) Deep breathing also 'massages or exercises' all the organs involved and boost blood circulation.
I shall not give instructions on how to do deep breathing in this blog. You can learn about this from videos on Youtube. Just go to Youtube, search for 'Qigong Breathing', and there are some good easy-to-learn breathing lessons free-of-charge.
For many years, I was wondering whether a serious Christian like myself should learn and practise Qigong or Yoga or Meditation exercises which are beneficial to health. I have concluded that these are 'good things', and are part of God's gift for humankind to promote good health. Just because these have been 'hijacked' by other religions and 'claimed' to be part of those religions, does not mean Christians have lost our right to these God-created gifts. Christians can use Qigong or Yoga exercises to promote good health too, as long as we avoid the spiritual elements associated with other religions.
Here I touch on one aspect of Internal Elixir, which is Exercise and Breathing.
Exercise refers to calithenics such as Qigong and Taichi which increases the 'chi' in the body. 'chi is also moved round different parts of the body to remove negativities or harmful elements.
Breathing refers to deep abdominal breathing and internal energy control. Deep breathing provides 2 major benefits. a) Deep breathing downloads beneficial negative ion energy from the air to the human body system. b) Deep breathing also 'massages or exercises' all the organs involved and boost blood circulation.
I shall not give instructions on how to do deep breathing in this blog. You can learn about this from videos on Youtube. Just go to Youtube, search for 'Qigong Breathing', and there are some good easy-to-learn breathing lessons free-of-charge.
For many years, I was wondering whether a serious Christian like myself should learn and practise Qigong or Yoga or Meditation exercises which are beneficial to health. I have concluded that these are 'good things', and are part of God's gift for humankind to promote good health. Just because these have been 'hijacked' by other religions and 'claimed' to be part of those religions, does not mean Christians have lost our right to these God-created gifts. Christians can use Qigong or Yoga exercises to promote good health too, as long as we avoid the spiritual elements associated with other religions.
Chi, the BioEnergy Part 1 of 3: Eat Raw
Today, I will write on a new series on 'chi'.
Much of Chinese Studies on life and longevity have been destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in China in 1950s and 1960s.
Instead of measuring lifespan in terms of heartbeats, Chinese tradition measures lives by counting breaths. When a person's alotted number of breaths expires, his life ends.
Chinese regards a human's normal lifespan to be 100 years. It should not be 70 or 80years. Compare maturity-to-lifespan ratio with other primates like cats, dogs, monkeys. A dog for example reaches maturity within 1 to 2 years. It's normal lifespan is 12 to 14 years. The ratio is 2/14 or 1/7. Human reaches maturity around 15 years, if the ratio is also 1/7, then the normal lifespan should be 105 !
But the toll of stressful living, pollution and pressure has shortened the 'normal' lifespan of human considerably.
There are 2 broad approaches to increase 'chi' and increase longevity. External Elixir and Internal Elixir
External Elixir refers to 1) diet 2) Physical Exercise 3) life-prolonging herbal supplements. I will only touch on diet in this blog entry.
By far the best life-prolonging diet available is freshly extracted juices of fresh raw fruits and raw vegetables. These are chock full of living enzymes, the only nutritional element capable of carrying the vital spark of life ('chi') into the human system.
Raw fruits and vegetables are 'live' food with 'chi'. Cooked food is 'dead' food with very little 'chi'.
Besides providing 'chi' raw fruit and vegetable juices are the best source of organic vitamins and minerals, as well as amino acids which the body requires to replenish dead and damaged cells. These minerals do not require long hours of digestion and the body could absorb them in a very short time.
Now you know why Japanese have longer lifespan! They eat lots of raw fish and vegetables, filled with 'chi'.
Continue reading this blog for more information.
Much of Chinese Studies on life and longevity have been destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in China in 1950s and 1960s.
Instead of measuring lifespan in terms of heartbeats, Chinese tradition measures lives by counting breaths. When a person's alotted number of breaths expires, his life ends.
Chinese regards a human's normal lifespan to be 100 years. It should not be 70 or 80years. Compare maturity-to-lifespan ratio with other primates like cats, dogs, monkeys. A dog for example reaches maturity within 1 to 2 years. It's normal lifespan is 12 to 14 years. The ratio is 2/14 or 1/7. Human reaches maturity around 15 years, if the ratio is also 1/7, then the normal lifespan should be 105 !
But the toll of stressful living, pollution and pressure has shortened the 'normal' lifespan of human considerably.
There are 2 broad approaches to increase 'chi' and increase longevity. External Elixir and Internal Elixir
External Elixir refers to 1) diet 2) Physical Exercise 3) life-prolonging herbal supplements. I will only touch on diet in this blog entry.
By far the best life-prolonging diet available is freshly extracted juices of fresh raw fruits and raw vegetables. These are chock full of living enzymes, the only nutritional element capable of carrying the vital spark of life ('chi') into the human system.
Raw fruits and vegetables are 'live' food with 'chi'. Cooked food is 'dead' food with very little 'chi'.
Besides providing 'chi' raw fruit and vegetable juices are the best source of organic vitamins and minerals, as well as amino acids which the body requires to replenish dead and damaged cells. These minerals do not require long hours of digestion and the body could absorb them in a very short time.
Now you know why Japanese have longer lifespan! They eat lots of raw fish and vegetables, filled with 'chi'.
Continue reading this blog for more information.
Monday, 2 February 2009
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
The Biography Of Abraham - Part 4 of 4: Faith Beyond Doubt
In this last episode of the Biography of Abraham, I could not resist writing about Abraham's example of 'Total Obedience'.
Gen 22 has been a popular text for many sermons. God has been testing, or has allowed his people to suffer or be tested time and time again. Each time His faithfuls passed the testing, they were richly blessed.
When God asked Abraham to "Take now your son...and offer him as a burnt offering...", Abraham was not stupid, and understood straight away what God was asking. God was asking him to:
a) Kill a person to demonstrate his obedience.
b) Not just somebody, but his own son.
c) Not just any son, but his ONLY son who he had begotten at an old age of 100.
Abraham obeyed. Abraham knew God. He had spoken with Him on several occasions. He had also spoke to Him angels on several occasions. God had worked miracles right before his eyes. To Abraham, God was not pure faith, God was beyond faith. God was a real person. God was a real God to Abraham.
The story had a happy ending when God tested Abraham enough, and asked him not to harm the lad at the last fraction of a second.
In life's journey as believers, we will be tested too, perhaps just as painfully as Abraham had experienced when God allows one of our loved ones to be taken away suddenly. Somehow God will carry us through the pain. Our faith must carry us through.
Peace.
Gen 22 has been a popular text for many sermons. God has been testing, or has allowed his people to suffer or be tested time and time again. Each time His faithfuls passed the testing, they were richly blessed.
When God asked Abraham to "Take now your son...and offer him as a burnt offering...", Abraham was not stupid, and understood straight away what God was asking. God was asking him to:
a) Kill a person to demonstrate his obedience.
b) Not just somebody, but his own son.
c) Not just any son, but his ONLY son who he had begotten at an old age of 100.
Abraham obeyed. Abraham knew God. He had spoken with Him on several occasions. He had also spoke to Him angels on several occasions. God had worked miracles right before his eyes. To Abraham, God was not pure faith, God was beyond faith. God was a real person. God was a real God to Abraham.
The story had a happy ending when God tested Abraham enough, and asked him not to harm the lad at the last fraction of a second.
In life's journey as believers, we will be tested too, perhaps just as painfully as Abraham had experienced when God allows one of our loved ones to be taken away suddenly. Somehow God will carry us through the pain. Our faith must carry us through.
Peace.
Friday, 23 January 2009
The Biography of Abraham Part 3 of 4
Abraham Did It Once, Did It Twice
Gen 12: Abraham Journeyed To Egypt. He lied.
...Now there was a famine in the land, so Abraham went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. And it came about when he came near Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and it will come about when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife', and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you."
And it came about when Abraham came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
And Pharaoh's officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. Therefore he treated Abraham well for her sake; and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels.
But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abraham's wife. (Note 1 : God punished Pharaoh for taking Abraham's wife because of Abraham's deceit!)
Then Pharaoh called Abraham and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say. 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go."
Gen 20:2: Abraham use the same deception again. He lied again.
...Abraham journeyed ...then he sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken for she is married." (Note 2: God punished Abimelech for taking Sarai as his wife, because of Abraham's deceit!)
Want to know the rest of the story? Then turn to the Bible and read it.
Abraham did it again, but God still forgave him! This tells us how close God and Abraham were. God's relationship with us are as close too.
And don't ever think of an affair with a married woman or a married man... God will be angry.
Interesting?
Gen 12: Abraham Journeyed To Egypt. He lied.
...Now there was a famine in the land, so Abraham went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. And it came about when he came near Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, "See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and it will come about when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife', and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you."
And it came about when Abraham came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
And Pharaoh's officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. Therefore he treated Abraham well for her sake; and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels.
But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abraham's wife. (Note 1 : God punished Pharaoh for taking Abraham's wife because of Abraham's deceit!)
Then Pharaoh called Abraham and said, "What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say. 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go."
Gen 20:2: Abraham use the same deception again. He lied again.
...Abraham journeyed ...then he sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." So Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken for she is married." (Note 2: God punished Abimelech for taking Sarai as his wife, because of Abraham's deceit!)
Want to know the rest of the story? Then turn to the Bible and read it.
Abraham did it again, but God still forgave him! This tells us how close God and Abraham were. God's relationship with us are as close too.
And don't ever think of an affair with a married woman or a married man... God will be angry.
Interesting?
Monday, 19 January 2009
The Biography of Abraham Part 2 or 4
I read somewhere that if you stand on top of a tower, and look at the horizon, your good eyesight can see about 25 kilometres away. In other words, if you look North, East, West, South, you will be able to see a circle of 25km radius.
In Gen 13, Abraham and Lot, his cousin, had a cordial relationship. But as their livestocks increased, their servants and workers started disputing and quarrelling over the vegetation and the water wells.
Abraham said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me: if (you take) to the left, then I will go to the right; or if (you take) to the right, then I will go to the left." Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere...Lot chose for himself all the valley of Jordan... He chose East and journeyed eastward. Thus Abraham and Lot were separated from each other.
Abraham was magnanimous. He was left with the half of the land that was arid and barren.
But God had His own decision. After Lot left, the Lord said to Abraham: "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever..."
You see, in his generosity, Abraham asked Lot to chose half, the left half or the right half. But God changed that and gave Ahraham both the left and the right, forever.
This is just one of the examples in Abraham's biography illustrating Abraham's special relationship with God.
As joint-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17), God would treat us the same too.
Alleluia.
In Gen 13, Abraham and Lot, his cousin, had a cordial relationship. But as their livestocks increased, their servants and workers started disputing and quarrelling over the vegetation and the water wells.
Abraham said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me: if (you take) to the left, then I will go to the right; or if (you take) to the right, then I will go to the left." Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere...Lot chose for himself all the valley of Jordan... He chose East and journeyed eastward. Thus Abraham and Lot were separated from each other.
Abraham was magnanimous. He was left with the half of the land that was arid and barren.
But God had His own decision. After Lot left, the Lord said to Abraham: "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever..."
You see, in his generosity, Abraham asked Lot to chose half, the left half or the right half. But God changed that and gave Ahraham both the left and the right, forever.
This is just one of the examples in Abraham's biography illustrating Abraham's special relationship with God.
As joint-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17), God would treat us the same too.
Alleluia.
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
The Biography of Abraham Part 1 or 4
I love to read biographies. In my younger days, I read lots of biographies. I read about the lives of Stalin, Lenin, Mao Tze Dong, and of course Lee Kuan Yew and others.
But none of the biographies or autobiographies I have read can compete with the Biography of Abraham. Between Genesis 11 and Genesis 25, the story is fast-moving, detailed, full of surprises, and never a dull moment.
You should read it. This is one of the best biographies I have read.
In this and next 3 blog postings, I will talk about Abraham.
As you read the biography of Abraham, you will wonder why God is so 'friend' with him. God spoke to him as a friend. Friends some times play prank and hurt each other, but always forgiving and not take heart. Friends sometimes betray one another, but in the end always remain loyal.
In the other chapters of Genesis, we confirmed that the Jews and the Palestinians were all decendants of Jacob and hence decendants of Abraham. Perhaps all Jews and Palestinians can take a DNA test to confirm this. They all should have some traces of Abraham's DNA. Then, perhaps, Jews and Palestinians should stop fighting each other in view of the common heritage.
Look out for the next 3 blog postings.
But none of the biographies or autobiographies I have read can compete with the Biography of Abraham. Between Genesis 11 and Genesis 25, the story is fast-moving, detailed, full of surprises, and never a dull moment.
You should read it. This is one of the best biographies I have read.
In this and next 3 blog postings, I will talk about Abraham.
As you read the biography of Abraham, you will wonder why God is so 'friend' with him. God spoke to him as a friend. Friends some times play prank and hurt each other, but always forgiving and not take heart. Friends sometimes betray one another, but in the end always remain loyal.
In the other chapters of Genesis, we confirmed that the Jews and the Palestinians were all decendants of Jacob and hence decendants of Abraham. Perhaps all Jews and Palestinians can take a DNA test to confirm this. They all should have some traces of Abraham's DNA. Then, perhaps, Jews and Palestinians should stop fighting each other in view of the common heritage.
Look out for the next 3 blog postings.
Sunday, 28 December 2008
What is 'Time'?
What is Time?
Our life spans 60 to 100 years. Do we have to plan meticulously to maximise all the time available?
I understand that some insects have a lifespan of less than 10 days. Do they rush through the 10 days to accomplish all they want in their 'short' lifetime?
Will Time Travel be a reality?
Is it true that a thousand years on Earth is but a day in Heaven?
The great Albert Einstein told us that 'Time is relative'. And that is true.
After God created the Heaven and the Earth, the Earth rotates around the Sun, giving us a measure of year, month, day, hour, minute and second.
However God is not subject to the dimension of Time! God created the stars and the planets and hence the concept of Time. But God is not part of what He created. God is above what He has created. God is above Time. God is 'outside' the Time dimension.
God said His name is "I AM WHO I AM". It is in the present tense. There is no past tense or future tense.
To God, there is no past and future. All events happen in the present tense. So the existence of Adam and Eve, of David and Solomon, of Jesus, and of your own self is not over a period of time.
When the Bible provides a perspective of Time and historical events, the writers were simply writing in human perspective, in human language. It is not in God's perspective.
Our Time is from God. So what if we die at 100 year old, or 10 days old? It's only relevant while we are human and finite. It's not relevant when we are no longer human.
But God is infinite.
Our life spans 60 to 100 years. Do we have to plan meticulously to maximise all the time available?
I understand that some insects have a lifespan of less than 10 days. Do they rush through the 10 days to accomplish all they want in their 'short' lifetime?
Will Time Travel be a reality?
Is it true that a thousand years on Earth is but a day in Heaven?
The great Albert Einstein told us that 'Time is relative'. And that is true.
After God created the Heaven and the Earth, the Earth rotates around the Sun, giving us a measure of year, month, day, hour, minute and second.
However God is not subject to the dimension of Time! God created the stars and the planets and hence the concept of Time. But God is not part of what He created. God is above what He has created. God is above Time. God is 'outside' the Time dimension.
God said His name is "I AM WHO I AM". It is in the present tense. There is no past tense or future tense.
To God, there is no past and future. All events happen in the present tense. So the existence of Adam and Eve, of David and Solomon, of Jesus, and of your own self is not over a period of time.
When the Bible provides a perspective of Time and historical events, the writers were simply writing in human perspective, in human language. It is not in God's perspective.
Our Time is from God. So what if we die at 100 year old, or 10 days old? It's only relevant while we are human and finite. It's not relevant when we are no longer human.
But God is infinite.
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Don't listen to Good News only
In recent years, more and more people are going for Lasik Treatment to correct their shortsightedness or other eye problems.
There are tons of advertisements and happy stories on Lasik Treatment. The cost is also getting lower, doctors are confident that the risk of complications is getting lower and, the impression is, more and more, and everybody is putting his trust on Lasik.
But Sunday Times, 7 Dec 08, is kind enough to provide the other side of the story -- samples of Bad News.
The article on page 34 "Lasik clinic's hard sell left her confused and fuming" is a good reminder that the risk is not that low.
An accompanying article by Catherine Lee on the same page:
"Is Lasik surgery really safe?
I once intended to go for such a procedure but changed my mind after talking to some friends and colleagues.
One colleague had a friend who went for Lasik surgery 10 years ago.
Everything was fine until about two to three years ago, when she developed problems -first in one eye, then the other. She could not regain her sight totally even after some operations, and ended up blind in one eye and partially blind in the other..."
Please note that when someone wants to earn your money by selling a product or service to you, his job is to tell you one side of the story only, the side that sells, not the side that don't sell.
Go and find out the other side of the story too.
There are tons of advertisements and happy stories on Lasik Treatment. The cost is also getting lower, doctors are confident that the risk of complications is getting lower and, the impression is, more and more, and everybody is putting his trust on Lasik.
But Sunday Times, 7 Dec 08, is kind enough to provide the other side of the story -- samples of Bad News.
The article on page 34 "Lasik clinic's hard sell left her confused and fuming" is a good reminder that the risk is not that low.
An accompanying article by Catherine Lee on the same page:
"Is Lasik surgery really safe?
I once intended to go for such a procedure but changed my mind after talking to some friends and colleagues.
One colleague had a friend who went for Lasik surgery 10 years ago.
Everything was fine until about two to three years ago, when she developed problems -first in one eye, then the other. She could not regain her sight totally even after some operations, and ended up blind in one eye and partially blind in the other..."
Please note that when someone wants to earn your money by selling a product or service to you, his job is to tell you one side of the story only, the side that sells, not the side that don't sell.
Go and find out the other side of the story too.
Higher Risk does not mean Higher Return
I watched the program "Cents and Sensibilities" over TV ChannelNewsAsia yesterday, Wednesday 10 Dec 08. It's about investing your money.
It reminded me:
Higher Return must come with Higher Risk.
BUT, BUT, BUT:
Higher Risk does not mean Higher Return!!!
I hope my readers will remember what I have highlighted.
It reminded me:
Higher Return must come with Higher Risk.
BUT, BUT, BUT:
Higher Risk does not mean Higher Return!!!
I hope my readers will remember what I have highlighted.
I asked a question, an interesting answer
I emailed to Dr KK Tan, a highly respected expert in meditation;.
Question:
Dear Dr. Tan
May I ask you :
1 whether rocks have souls?
2 whether trees have souls?
3 If yes, than if a tree is cut down and made into 10 chairs, will the tree-soul be 'split up' into 10 chair-souls?
4 Does insects like ants, mosquitoes and wasps have souls?
5 If yes, than since there are trillions of insects, there would be trillions and trillions of souls in the world ?
6 What DOES NOT have a soul then?
Thank you for your time and teaching.
Answer:
Dear Pat,
Almost everything that is natural occurring has a soul. Minerals includung rocks have souls. All
vegetation including all plants have souls. Then come animals and lastly humans. However if a human is killed, his soul leaves him. Similarly this appies to animals and trees. If you chopped a tree down, you kill it. Thence the piesces of wood do not contain any soul. Trillions of insects also possess souls. All natural occurring
things have souls, but when a man is killed or a tree is felled or an animal is killed, all these three will be deprived of souls. I assume when a large rock is pulverised into tiny pieces, it would have lost its soul as well. That means almost everything on earth does possess a soul until it is destroyed or killed.
K.K.Tan
Conclusion:
Haha. It's up to you whether or not to believe in the answer. But I just find it amusing.
Thanks to Dr KK Tan.
Question:
Dear Dr. Tan
May I ask you :
1 whether rocks have souls?
2 whether trees have souls?
3 If yes, than if a tree is cut down and made into 10 chairs, will the tree-soul be 'split up' into 10 chair-souls?
4 Does insects like ants, mosquitoes and wasps have souls?
5 If yes, than since there are trillions of insects, there would be trillions and trillions of souls in the world ?
6 What DOES NOT have a soul then?
Thank you for your time and teaching.
Answer:
Dear Pat,
Almost everything that is natural occurring has a soul. Minerals includung rocks have souls. All
vegetation including all plants have souls. Then come animals and lastly humans. However if a human is killed, his soul leaves him. Similarly this appies to animals and trees. If you chopped a tree down, you kill it. Thence the piesces of wood do not contain any soul. Trillions of insects also possess souls. All natural occurring
things have souls, but when a man is killed or a tree is felled or an animal is killed, all these three will be deprived of souls. I assume when a large rock is pulverised into tiny pieces, it would have lost its soul as well. That means almost everything on earth does possess a soul until it is destroyed or killed.
K.K.Tan
Conclusion:
Haha. It's up to you whether or not to believe in the answer. But I just find it amusing.
Thanks to Dr KK Tan.
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Signing the Advance Medical Directive?
I am considering whether or not I should sign the AMD.
2 weeks ago, I visited an aunty who was on wheelchair. Her husband passed away about 7 months ago.
That afternoon, my aunty told me that her late husband's sister had passed away 5 months ago too. Besides, another of her late husband's brother had passed away 2 months ago. Another brother was now in hospital, feeding through a tube and breathing through a hole through the neck. In all, 3 members in that family died within 7 months and another going going soon.
Hospitals are now quite good in prolonging life. A seriously ill person can be forced fed and forced to continue breathing. Life expectancy is getting longer, medical cost is getting higher, and quality of life during the disability period, is getting worse.
All of us want a 'rectangular life'. If we were to die, we hope die quickly, in dignity, not prolonged and die off so slowly that someone has to care for us for years and years. Having a helper to change your diapers, wipe your ass, bathe you and at most trying moments lose their temper on you is most un-dignifying.
I believe that the best way to die is through a massive heart attack. Life is gone within 3 minutes, without prolong suffering. It would be good if heart attach or pneumonia is the top killer disease and not cancer.
Well, how will the AMD help? Does it mean that I am refusing artificial respiratory aids after I sign up AMD? Does it help me to die quickly when there is 'no hope'? Who would decide that there is 'no hope', and give permission to disconnect the life-supporting apparatus?
I will like to know more. Do you know more?
2 weeks ago, I visited an aunty who was on wheelchair. Her husband passed away about 7 months ago.
That afternoon, my aunty told me that her late husband's sister had passed away 5 months ago too. Besides, another of her late husband's brother had passed away 2 months ago. Another brother was now in hospital, feeding through a tube and breathing through a hole through the neck. In all, 3 members in that family died within 7 months and another going going soon.
Hospitals are now quite good in prolonging life. A seriously ill person can be forced fed and forced to continue breathing. Life expectancy is getting longer, medical cost is getting higher, and quality of life during the disability period, is getting worse.
All of us want a 'rectangular life'. If we were to die, we hope die quickly, in dignity, not prolonged and die off so slowly that someone has to care for us for years and years. Having a helper to change your diapers, wipe your ass, bathe you and at most trying moments lose their temper on you is most un-dignifying.
I believe that the best way to die is through a massive heart attack. Life is gone within 3 minutes, without prolong suffering. It would be good if heart attach or pneumonia is the top killer disease and not cancer.
Well, how will the AMD help? Does it mean that I am refusing artificial respiratory aids after I sign up AMD? Does it help me to die quickly when there is 'no hope'? Who would decide that there is 'no hope', and give permission to disconnect the life-supporting apparatus?
I will like to know more. Do you know more?
A Lesson In Giving
Goh Sin Tub died 5 to 10 years ago. Before he died, he wrote this inspiring article for us:
SOME PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE RICH, NO MATTER HOW LITTLE THEY HAVE
In the early '80s, Brother Kevin Byrne, then principal of Singapore's St Joseph's Institution, and I started raising money from alumni and the other supporters for the school's new campus on Malcolm Road (near Toa Payoh). Our campaign was based on an optimistic premise that we could convince our supporters to give the school the biggest charity donation of their lives -- at least $1000, a generous sum in those days. Our target was to recruit 3000 such supporters, which would raise $3 million.
As the ambitious scheme gathered momentum, we had our low moments -- but we had our high ones too.
I remember when the first replies arrived. Brother Kevin and I were working on our newsletter, which would serve as a reminder of our appeal. We stopped to read the mail.
One of the first envelopes gave promise of good things. The backflap presented the sender's particulars in embossed letters, including a personal logo in color. I recognised the name: a successful and academically accomplished graduate of the school. The address was in the affluent District 10. Though still young, the sender was already a high-income earner, and we thought he was good for at least $10,000, most likely more.
I let Brother Kevin have the pleasure of opening the letter to receive the big donation. He was silent as he scrutinized the contents.
The man did not donate even one cent. "Still," the saintly Brother Kevin said, "at least he took the trouble to write to us - explain his situation and wish us well."
The man wrote that right now things were tight. He had just invested over $500,000 in a condo. He concluded sadly, "So it looks as if for the next few years, until I have paid off my mortgage, I won't be able to give anything to charity. Nevertheless, I shall pray for you. May God bless you."
"And we expected a bonanza from him," I said, expressing my disappointment.
One of the next letters we opened rewards us. But that initial donation to our cause filled me with both awe and misgivings.
"A thousand-dollar cheque!" said Brother Kevin, so delighted he did not at first notice who sent it. I did. It was from Joe Gomes - someone I knew well.
I did not recall including his name on our 'hit' list; someone else on our committee must have added it. Yes, Joe had always been well-disposed toward our school, but in my mind I had him classified as someone who help out in funfairs and charity shows rather than hefty direct donations - he was definitely not in the four-figure league that was our target.
Joe was not your average well-off alumnus (or your average academically successful Josephian, for that matter). Indeed, at the time he sent us his donation, he was working as caretaker of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, for which the church provided him a modest allowance and an equally modest behind-the-church accomodation. You could say he was as poor as the proverbial church mouse.
I expressed my concern to Brother Kevin. "Why, when Joe needed a heart-bypass a few years back, we passed the hat around to help him pay his bills. I'll have to speak with the man. We may have to discreetly hand him back his donation." Brother Kevin agreed.
The next morning, which happened to be Sunday, I caught Joe alone after the last church service.
"Joe, we want to thank you for your generous donation, but..." I began.
"Have to help, what! My duty, you know. You're all doing good work, helping to build our new school, helping so many students in future. How can I just stand by, not do my bit - as far as I can?"
I cleared my throat and lowered my voice. "Please don't be angry, but I have to ask you, Joe. A thousand dollars is a lot of money. Can you really afford to donate such a big sum?"
Joe did not reply at once. His eyes searched mine. Was he insulted by what I said? My question suddenly seemed so offending! I hope he did not think I was looking down on him. I looked back at him anxiously.
I was relieved to see a twinkle in his eyes - and to hear his light-hearted reply:
"Don't worry Mr Goh. I'm not kosong (empty), you know. I still have a few hundred dollars left in my savings account!"
Brother Kevin's eyes also glistened when I told him what happened.
Joe's reply became a spring of encouragement to all of us involved in the fund-raising. Now we knew for sure: our cause had strong support. With people like Joe on our side, we are invincible. In time the school was built.
We had learned much from our close encounters with the rich and poor. Brother Kevin summed it up for us: "Being rich isn't about having money, is it? Some of us will always be poor, some always rich - no matter how much or how little we have."
SOME PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE RICH, NO MATTER HOW LITTLE THEY HAVE
In the early '80s, Brother Kevin Byrne, then principal of Singapore's St Joseph's Institution, and I started raising money from alumni and the other supporters for the school's new campus on Malcolm Road (near Toa Payoh). Our campaign was based on an optimistic premise that we could convince our supporters to give the school the biggest charity donation of their lives -- at least $1000, a generous sum in those days. Our target was to recruit 3000 such supporters, which would raise $3 million.
As the ambitious scheme gathered momentum, we had our low moments -- but we had our high ones too.
I remember when the first replies arrived. Brother Kevin and I were working on our newsletter, which would serve as a reminder of our appeal. We stopped to read the mail.
One of the first envelopes gave promise of good things. The backflap presented the sender's particulars in embossed letters, including a personal logo in color. I recognised the name: a successful and academically accomplished graduate of the school. The address was in the affluent District 10. Though still young, the sender was already a high-income earner, and we thought he was good for at least $10,000, most likely more.
I let Brother Kevin have the pleasure of opening the letter to receive the big donation. He was silent as he scrutinized the contents.
The man did not donate even one cent. "Still," the saintly Brother Kevin said, "at least he took the trouble to write to us - explain his situation and wish us well."
The man wrote that right now things were tight. He had just invested over $500,000 in a condo. He concluded sadly, "So it looks as if for the next few years, until I have paid off my mortgage, I won't be able to give anything to charity. Nevertheless, I shall pray for you. May God bless you."
"And we expected a bonanza from him," I said, expressing my disappointment.
One of the next letters we opened rewards us. But that initial donation to our cause filled me with both awe and misgivings.
"A thousand-dollar cheque!" said Brother Kevin, so delighted he did not at first notice who sent it. I did. It was from Joe Gomes - someone I knew well.
I did not recall including his name on our 'hit' list; someone else on our committee must have added it. Yes, Joe had always been well-disposed toward our school, but in my mind I had him classified as someone who help out in funfairs and charity shows rather than hefty direct donations - he was definitely not in the four-figure league that was our target.
Joe was not your average well-off alumnus (or your average academically successful Josephian, for that matter). Indeed, at the time he sent us his donation, he was working as caretaker of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, for which the church provided him a modest allowance and an equally modest behind-the-church accomodation. You could say he was as poor as the proverbial church mouse.
I expressed my concern to Brother Kevin. "Why, when Joe needed a heart-bypass a few years back, we passed the hat around to help him pay his bills. I'll have to speak with the man. We may have to discreetly hand him back his donation." Brother Kevin agreed.
The next morning, which happened to be Sunday, I caught Joe alone after the last church service.
"Joe, we want to thank you for your generous donation, but..." I began.
"Have to help, what! My duty, you know. You're all doing good work, helping to build our new school, helping so many students in future. How can I just stand by, not do my bit - as far as I can?"
I cleared my throat and lowered my voice. "Please don't be angry, but I have to ask you, Joe. A thousand dollars is a lot of money. Can you really afford to donate such a big sum?"
Joe did not reply at once. His eyes searched mine. Was he insulted by what I said? My question suddenly seemed so offending! I hope he did not think I was looking down on him. I looked back at him anxiously.
I was relieved to see a twinkle in his eyes - and to hear his light-hearted reply:
"Don't worry Mr Goh. I'm not kosong (empty), you know. I still have a few hundred dollars left in my savings account!"
Brother Kevin's eyes also glistened when I told him what happened.
Joe's reply became a spring of encouragement to all of us involved in the fund-raising. Now we knew for sure: our cause had strong support. With people like Joe on our side, we are invincible. In time the school was built.
We had learned much from our close encounters with the rich and poor. Brother Kevin summed it up for us: "Being rich isn't about having money, is it? Some of us will always be poor, some always rich - no matter how much or how little we have."
Monday, 17 November 2008
Physicist Stephen Hawking
In an interview with Reuters last year, Hawking, author of the best selling "A Brief History of Time", said:
1 "I believe the universe is governed by the laws of science,"
2. "The laws may have been decreed by God,"
3. "But God does not interviene to break the laws."
This is also what I believe, except that, in time past, God did intervened now and then to break the laws. But not anymore, in this Dispensation of Grace.
The drying of the Red Sea for Moses/Jews to cross on their way out of Egypt, and stopping the Earth's rotation for a day, were 2 examples given in the Bible.
God is capable of breaking the laws of science. He may do that again in His own time and own judgement. Yes, there can be MIRACLES.
1 "I believe the universe is governed by the laws of science,"
2. "The laws may have been decreed by God,"
3. "But God does not interviene to break the laws."
This is also what I believe, except that, in time past, God did intervened now and then to break the laws. But not anymore, in this Dispensation of Grace.
The drying of the Red Sea for Moses/Jews to cross on their way out of Egypt, and stopping the Earth's rotation for a day, were 2 examples given in the Bible.
God is capable of breaking the laws of science. He may do that again in His own time and own judgement. Yes, there can be MIRACLES.
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